Invites Controversial Cleric Over Seeming Support for Bandits
- By Kamil Opeyemi
Controversial cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, cannot be above the law.
This was the statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris who also disclosed that the cleric has been invited for questioning by the security agency.
Idris, while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, said nobody is above the law and if Gumi is found guilty, will be reprimanded.
“The security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi or any other person is not above the law. If he he suggestions that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take but if they think that he is also making some statements that appeared to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
“There is nobody that is above the law in this regard. And I am aware he has been a guest of security agencies to answer questions. When you make remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on the security agencies to dig further,” the minister stated.
Explaining why ransom could not be paid, the minister said the government had made it clear it would not tolerate payments of ransom saying this encourages more kidnappings and other forms of crimes.
The minister said, “President Bola Tinubu is determined to end this cycle of payment of ransom to kidnappers. The government believes that this continues to encourage these kidnappers, these criminal elements to perpetrate this act within the Nigerian nation and it is the official position of government as announced here last week that ransom will not be tolerated. Ransom will not be encouraged ransom will not be paid by the government.”